24/05/13

Sons not to drink wine (daughters can?)

Jeremiah 35:14 - The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.


In today's message we read from the book of Jeremiah where God speaks of the Rechabites and shows them as an example of obedience and commitment.

There is one point that is caught my attention since I was just discussing with someone on the differences between man and woman. Before I get to it, in today's scripture we see Jonadab had commanded his sons not to drink wine. The Hebrew word used for wine as noted here is Yayin which was a wine that was fermented from mild to moderate. Drinking the mild version of this wine is not forbidden for Jesus Himself did drink it. It did not intoxicate a person unless it was drunk in large quantity. Getting intoxicated is cautioned but drinking mild wine is not.

God has given us wisdom to discern, like a child is forbidden to play with fire so also those weak in spirit are forbidden fermented wine. Paul suggested Timothy to drink a little mildly fermented wine as medicine as one grows old.

Coming to the point I spoke of, we see in the English translation it is written Jonadab commanded his sons not to drink wine; that did not mean his daughters could drink wine.

This scripture is a classic example of translations causing a wrong picture of situation between genders in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word used here is 'ben' and if used in plurality included both boys and girls, in other words it means children.

The customs of men in the Old Testament were gender based but God wasn't. There were some things God did instruct gender based but they were for us to understand spiritual things hidden. We read the Spirit of God is written in feminine gender that does not mean God's Spirit is feminine, for God the Father's Spirit is also the Spirit of the Son. We need to also understand God the Father is called Father and God the Son as Son does not mean they are male in gender as man is. They are Spirit and the gender refers to the image in spirit. They cannot be compared or understood as the human gender we understand. Similarly the Church is called bride. We are the Church and that does not make the men of the Church females. These gender terms are more spiritual and not natural.

Being male of female gender is the temporary body or tent we dwell in when we live in this world, on the inside we are the same. Even in Heaven we will be alike with no difference between one and another. There will be no boy, girl, man or woman in Heaven, we will be like the Angels - spiritual beings. Even though Angels are called Sons of God yet they are not male as we understand in human terms.

In today's message God is telling us we are equal in Him when we are obedient to Him and all these who are obedient to Him become Sons to Him. In the Gospel of John it is written Jesus came to give power to those who believe in His Name to become Sons. This power is the Holy Spirit, for without the help of the Holy Spirit it is just impossible for man to abide by the Word of God and be obedient unto it.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You made us in the flesh but when sin was not in us flesh was never a factor for us. But when sin came in man flesh became a factor and man realized the nakedness on the flesh. The corruption of the truth in us due to the fruit of doubt eaten by our fathers has caused us to misunderstand many things. Lord, open our minds to the Truth as written in your Word, with the help of your Spirit. Make us, your sons and daughter into your Sons when Christ comes; make us like Him...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:19 - For the earnest expectation of the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Galatians 4:5-7
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Matthew 22:30 - For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)